From knock-off old-man's electric vehicles to industrial giant

Chapter 223 A Dazzling Starlight, A Grand Opening (The End) (6k)

at the same time.

The live stream footage was subsequently transmitted to various live streaming platforms, leaving viewers stunned.

Their eyes held a clear, stunned look.

I couldn't help but swallow.

It felt like I was experiencing a car launch event for the first time.

Well known.

You can choose the options when buying a car.

For example, it comes standard with a 360-degree camera system, power-adjustable steering wheel, remote vehicle control, ventilated and massaging seats, and a surround sound system with more than a dozen speakers...

The manufacturer won't add any of these items unless you pay an extra three to five thousand.

Add two or three thousand here, and another five or eight thousand there.

After a series of selections, the price might exceed the original car price by 20%.

You can skip this option.

The original factory version is too basic.

A car takes at least three to five years, and sometimes five to ten years. Who would want to keep driving the base model forever?

Saying that any car is good enough is just a way to comfort yourself.

Anything within one's capabilities can usually be summarized in one sentence:

I may not need it, but you can't live without it!

……

And those joint venture luxury cars with strict hierarchical structures are even more impressive.

BBA's common models offer up to 35 optional features.

Porsche's side.

Personalized options can often number up to 100.

Even the embroidered patterns on the seats and the multi-colored ambient lighting in the interior can cost over ten thousand yuan.

A car that starts at 600,000 to 700,000 yuan can be upgraded to a million-yuan price with optional extras.

"Choosing a spouse can bankrupt three generations" is no joke.

So what did they see at the Starry Sky press conference?
The entire configuration list was densely filled with text.

Two lists.

Whether it's a feature that joint venture cars are willing to give away, or an expensive feature that's placed high on the shelf.

Just two words.

Standard configuration?

—Still the standard configuration from the fuck!!
"Not buddy..."

"Everything comes standard??"

"what??"

"This is definitely the car with the most comprehensive standard features I've ever seen!"

……

People online were shocked!

In recent years, domestic car manufacturers have been integrating configurations to improve their competitiveness.

But such a breakthrough has undoubtedly opened a new chapter.

"With this kind of strategy, Xingchen Motors is really going to flip the table!" He Xiaopeng exclaimed.

There are several noteworthy configurations here.

For example: large HUD head-up display, double-layered laminated glass, as well as fragrance systems and heat pump air conditioners.

It's not a matter of optional features.

Most cars priced below 300,000 yuan don't even qualify for selection.

Looking at Li Bin again, he remained silent, lost in thought.

He Xiaopeng spoke again to comfort him:

"On the bright side, there are ready-made solutions for these supply chains. If Xingchen can do it, we can also burn money and get subsidies to build it up."

"A strong competitive advantage is crucial. You have battery swapping, I have intelligent driving—these are features that Star Auto lacks."

Li Bin is still trying his best to adjust his mindset.

Hearing this, he breathed a sigh of relief and could only nod: "Yes, there's also battery swapping, and intelligent driving..."

Both companies purchased Mobileye's solutions and invested heavily in autonomous driving.

Developed based on the other party's mature solution, the initial progress is quite significant, stronger than the ACC solutions of other domestic car companies, and some additional functions have also been developed.

Although Xingchen Automotive made a big splash by poaching the Baidu team, it chose the NVIDIA platform.

In other words, Xingchen Motors has to reinvent the wheel in the field of intelligent driving.

Surely we can't build them faster than they can, right?

At least on this current configuration table, there is no description of ACC or advanced driver assistance features.

He Xiaopeng is somewhat confident in this regard.

-

but.

And in the very next second.

"Everyone... should have seen enough by now. Due to time constraints, I can't introduce everything one by one. You are welcome to visit our offline stores to experience it firsthand. No matter which configuration you choose, it represents Xingchen Auto's sincerity towards consumers. We have meticulously crafted it, and we have tried our best to make every aspect of this car as comfortable as possible..."

Xu Yi waited for the audience's reaction, then glanced at the big screen.

Behind these configurations are various suppliers, large and small. It is the result of Xingchen Automotive's tireless efforts over the past year that have led to today's fully integrated vehicle solution.

Then, in a tone full of expectation and seriousness.

"Now, let's take a look at the configuration sheet on the last page."

The words fell.

Everyone's minds went blank again!
what?
Is there another configuration sheet?
Because there were so many features, the large screen behind Xu Yi had to list two rows of them to display the entire vehicle's configuration.

They all thought it was over.

But now.

The large screen behind Xu Yi changed again, displaying a brand new configuration list.

That's also the focus of the second half!
"Nine 2-megapixel cameras, five millimeter-wave radars, ultrasonic radar, capacitive steering wheel, NVIDIA Drive PX2 platform..."

"The Starry Sky L7 supports a full suite of Level 2 driver assistance functions, including adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, automatic parking, and lane change assist!"

The diagram of the vehicle's sensing hardware details the parameters and functions of each sensing element.

The angles and ranges covered by the "front ultra-long-range camera" and the "vehicle surround view camera", as well as the sensing range of the "millimeter wave and ultrasonic radar", were all simulated using animation.

This has created a unique vehicle perception zone.

"As everyone knows, traditional L2 functions are very expensive. We have investigated high-end models led by BBA (BMW, Mercedes-Benz, and Audi). In addition to charging 8,000 yuan for remote air conditioning control, the software activation plan for advanced driver assistance functions like these often costs 30,000 yuan!"

Xu Yi chuckled and added, "Competitors' data charges are often very expensive."

The press conference sparked another round of discussion and some laughter.

This isn't the first time joint venture automakers have done this.

The charge for remote air conditioning control is just the most well-known issue, and the one that most car owners are exposed to.

ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) systems are even more expensive.

There are even more advanced systems, such as the rear-wheel steering system in the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, which requires a paid license to use!

"And today, our Starcraft still equips the entire Level 2 driver assistance system as standard equipment!!"

"Not only that, we have also developed more intelligent driving functions on the basis of L2. Based on our internal planning and research, I would like to call them L2+ level intelligent driving functions."

Hear this.

He Xiaopeng's world has collapsed.

...

Xu Yi, with his hand on the car body, enthusiastically introduced Xingchen's exclusive research and development achievements to the public: "At the beginning of the event, I seemed to hear some friends in the audience say that this looks like a remote control car. I am very happy to have everyone's recognition."

But if it only supports straight in and straight out, that would be too simplistic.

Next, please enjoy our remote-controlled automatic parking function!

The lights changed.

A series of specialized spotlights illuminate the space, using the difference in light angles to simulate a parking space.

Xu Yi took out his phone and long-pressed the "remote parking function" on the app page.

Then,

The Starry Sky L7 actually started moving on its own!

The whole audience exclaimed!

Even though the driver's seat was empty, the car automatically shifted gears and began parking. The driver acted like a meticulous driver, adjusting the car's position along this "temporary simulated parking space" and slowly parking it.

To be honest, the parking function isn't that difficult.

Both suppliers and automakers have come up with complete solutions.

The fact that no one was parking in the garage was a first for the public, bringing an unspeakable shock to everyone!
"I believe many friends share the same frustration as me. Whether it's finding a parking space or parking a large vehicle, it takes a lot of effort and requires great care... Even automatic parking often becomes less effective due to accuracy issues or limitations of parking spaces. The car may be parked, but the driver may get stuck."

We have now developed a remote-controlled automatic parking system that not only separates people from vehicles but also achieves a high degree of accuracy.

Many video scenes appeared on the large screen.

Some scenes show Xu Yi driving his car and parking in ground-level or underground parking garages, while others show cars automatically parking in irregularly shaped or narrow parking spaces.

"In 1980, GM and Bosch developed the 'Automatic Parking Assist System.' After 2004, Toyota launched the world's first mass-produced automatic parking system. Ten years later, with the introduction of this feature by joint venture brands, our domestic automakers also began to equip their vehicles with this function..."

"From semi-automatic to fully automatic, and now to the ability to identify angled and non-standard parking spaces through machine learning algorithms, these are the results of Xingchen's exploration in the field of intelligent driving!"

"I can guarantee that the current Xingchen L7 can recognize more than 98% of complex parking spaces, and it will not make a mistake in any position that a person can back into. For some difficult and narrow parking spaces, it has achieved an amazing accuracy rate!"

It can even remember parking spaces.

This automatic parking system will surpass previous parking systems, providing truly accurate, reliable, and comfortable use.

To be far ahead!

Xu Yi's words were firm and resounding.

To achieve this, the autonomous driving team has made extensive optimizations to the "parking function," since collecting data on irregularly shaped parking spaces is much faster than training urban driver assistance systems, and the computing power fully supports their efforts in doing so.

The complex parking scenarios shown in the video are all filmed in a one-to-one scale, leaving no room for faking.

"Remote control off-vehicle? It can even park at an angle? And it can remember my parking information?!"

Li Shufu stared intently at the details of the image.

Experts can see the difference; these few features alone have already exceeded the scope of all current supplier solutions!
This is clearly a feature developed exclusively by Starry Sky.

"Fancy and overly flashy," Wei Jianbing couldn't help but comment.

Great Wall Motors focuses its technological efforts on traditional powertrains and chassis, and is not so enthusiastic about intelligent sensor functions.

When he saw the "refrigerator and color TV" configuration, he felt like complaining.

aside.

Wang Chuanfu remained silent.

Because he felt that "unmanned parking" alone was probably not enough to make Xingchen a standalone entity.

...Xu Yi was still laughing: "Automatic parking is just one aspect of car ownership. In order to test the vehicle and communicate with dealers, we experienced a long period of highway driving..."

As everyone knows, driving on the highway is very tiring; driving 500 or 800 kilometers is quite exhausting.

Even with ACC cruise control, it can only alleviate some of the problems and is still difficult to handle road conditions when entering or exiting ramps and overtaking at high speeds.

Therefore, we are proud to launch the first NOA (Navigation Assist) function in China!

More video scenes appeared on the big screen.

"Automatic turn signal and lane change! Automatic overtaking at high speeds! Automatic entry and exit from ramps! Full speed range control from 0-130km/h!"

We have officially opened up 12 national-level trunk roads, connecting the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region with Northeast China, covering North China, and linking the Pearl River Delta, so that everyone can use the comfortable and convenient highway navigation function when traveling on highways.

A typical L2-level ACC assisted driving system, when driving 1,000 kilometers on a national highway, often requires more than 50 takeovers for on-ramps, overtaking, and swerving, depending on normal traffic flow.

Using our NOA highway navigation assist function, we can achieve zero intervention in 70% of vehicle conditions, and in the remaining 30% of vehicle conditions, the number of interventions is less than ten.

This greatly reduces fatigue during long-distance driving, and the vehicle will also provide automatic alerts in case of emergencies, a feature not found in ordinary ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control).

Xu Yi pointed to one of the videos.

The video shows him driving on the highway: facing road construction and traffic cones blocking the lane, the vehicle's display screen and in-car voice system promptly issue an emergency warning and he makes an emergency lane change.

"According to industry statistics, more than 5,000 highway accidents are caused by driver fatigue each year. Vehicles equipped with ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) have seen a significant reduction in such accidents, often decreasing the number of incidents by about 30%..."

Xu Yi did not blindly praise autonomous driving; instead, he presented data derived from official statistics and industry analysis.

This provides a serious basis for the argument based on data.

"The intelligent driving function we have developed can significantly reduce fatigue and can use algorithms and high-precision cameras to provide a better safety boundary for everyone!"
It also has full-domain AEB functionality, which can avoid a certain probability of accidents in emergency situations.

of course.

Cases of accidents caused by the misuse of driver assistance systems still occur.

Any advanced intelligent function is centered on the human being.

The automobile was a great invention of the last century.

The greatest thing about humans is their ability to drive a car.

A profound summary.

The article thoroughly explains all the functions of the L2+ level high-speed navigation assistance system, while still reminding the public of the existence of safety boundaries.

Many people present were already moved.

This includes media reporters and car reviewers.

Only those who have used ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) and those who frequently drive long distances on highways know how important it is.

It can be said.

Without lane keeping assist and following assist functions.

Anyone who can drive a thousand kilometers in one go is an Iron Man among Iron Men!
With ACC, they can completely let the assisted driving control most simple road conditions, and it is no exaggeration to say that they can reduce fatigue by half.

Now, the Starry Sky high-speed navigation and driver assistance system is even more comprehensive and impressive in this regard!
Some people even gaped open and exclaimed in surprise when they saw the feature description.

Isn't this self-driving car?!
Xu Yi heard the faint gasp, but smiled and remained silent.

Promoting the concept of autonomous driving certainly has some appeal.

Big companies like Baidu, Tesla, and Google started promoting this concept at every product launch a year or two ago.

They wish they could have those words etched onto their faces.

This has sparked endless speculation among the public.

But Xingchen doesn't do that.

The emphasis throughout is on the concept of "intelligent driving and human-vehicle co-driving".

Again:
Take off the shoes that fit the river you are crossing, and wear pants that fit the size of your butt.

They can be far ahead.

But we cannot blindly take the lead!!

……

Xu Yi stood on the stage, in front of the screen and under the spotlight.

Beams of light shone on the porcelain-like paint of the car body, and countless eyes were also focused on his angular face.

He glanced at the time and looked around at everyone.

Finally, he spoke:
"We have devoted thousands of days and nights to the path of car manufacturing. The time it took us to go from being offstage to being onstage was only two hours, but it represents the hard work, dedication, and effort of thousands of people..."

We've brought our sincerity here, and I'm sure everyone is curious about the price of the Starry Night L7.

The configuration lists for the two car models appeared on the large screen behind me.

"Please allow me to introduce the differences between the two configurations of the Starry Sky L7:"
The premium version will feature advanced navigation assistance, air suspension, fragrance system, electric tow hitch, four-door soft-close function, 21-inch wheels, and electric running boards.

The high-end version is equipped with CDC damping, ACC intelligent assist, and all other standard features already mentioned.

Xu Yi paused for a moment:
"It is worth mentioning that our official electric tow hook, as a functional component of the vehicle, is installed and used in accordance with relevant national regulations and has obtained the relevant qualifications. If needed, vehicle owners can choose to install it separately for 8,000 yuan. The electric step for getting in and out of the vehicle can also be selected as an official option for 6,000 yuan."

Furthermore, even the high-end version of the Xingchen L7 still possesses a full set of intelligent driving perception hardware and computing power, as well as full-domain AEB vehicle passive safety capabilities. Xingchen Automotive never compromises on safety.

If needed later, car owners can still spend 15,000 yuan to activate the advanced intelligent driving capabilities!

Two versions.

Both versions are worth it.

The main selling point is that the high-end configuration is sufficient, and the premium experience is all there.

Take electric tow hooks with relevant qualifications as an example. This configuration is designed for current SUV models, and many car manufacturers have not even applied for the relevant qualifications.

Even if it were available, the optional extras would cost at least 12,000 yuan.

And advanced intelligent driving functions go without saying.

The ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) driver assistance function, which costs 20,000 to 30,000 yuan in joint venture car companies, is standard equipment on Xingchen.

As for the more advanced navigation-assisted driving, it only costs 15,000 to activate, and more functions can be opened up as the intelligent driving version is updated, allowing for a higher limit.

"You might be wondering, why is our Starry Sky version the high-end version right from the start? Where are the standard and entry-level versions?"

Xu Yi said with a smile, "Actually, the configuration of our entry-level version already surpasses that of many top-of-the-line cars on the market, so calling it a high-end version isn't an exaggeration, is it?"

We've finally reached the most crucial step.

Xu Yi was very sincere.

With a slightly nervous expression, he bent down slightly, placed his hands together on his lower abdomen, rubbed his palms, and solemnly inquired about the opinions of those present.

He even looked at the camera and the live stream, as if asking for the opinions of thousands of netizens from afar.

The voice just fell.

There has been a response from the scene.

"Not at all! Not at all!!"

"That's amazing!"

……

Xu Yi officially announced the price of the Starry Night L7. This time, the official price directly includes the subsidy, and the announced unified price after the reduction is as follows:

"Combined with national new energy subsidies and related policy reductions and exemptions."

The high-spec version of the Starry Sky L7 has a unified national price of 32.88 yuan!

The nationwide unified price for the premium Starry Night L7 is 36.88 RMB!
......"

The moment the words were spoken, the entire hall erupted in cheers!

This time, it really couldn't be suppressed anymore, and it descended into a cacophony of noise!
Discussions and murmurs rose and fell.

Media car reviewers chatted amongst themselves, and couldn't resist taking out their phones to take pictures of the prices displayed on the big screen on stage.

On the automaker side, many industry leaders looked grim.

Wei Jianbing's mind went blank.

Now he couldn't even utter the words "flashy" anymore.

His eyes were glued to every configuration item on the list, constantly calculating the overall cost of the vehicle.

"Mr. Wang, what do you think of this price...?"

Li Shufu didn't understand, but was deeply shocked.

Geely had just decided to make a major investment in the new energy vehicle market, but it encountered a huge obstacle, leaving it feeling a bit dizzy and disoriented!

He couldn't help but ask Wang Chuanfu for his opinion.

Although BYD's total sales volume is currently lower than Geely's, it has made significant achievements in the new energy vehicle sector.

But Wang Chuanfu, who was standing next to him, didn't say a word.

Instead, he quietly took out his phone, opened the Xingchen Auto APP, and waited on the homepage for the vehicle reservation to open on time!
"Mr. Wang, what are you doing..." Li Shufu's eyes widened!

Wang Chuanfu's face flashed with embarrassment when his actions were exposed, but he quickly recovered and said, "Ahem... I'm friends with President Xu. He's holding a press conference, so I bought a premium edition to support him."

After saying that, he turned his head and gestured to the two executives next to him, telling them to quickly take out their phones as well.

"..."

Is that what you call support?

I'm too embarrassed to call you out!

Li Shufu was speechless.

It's obvious, but this car really piqued his interest.

Whether it's the ultra-high thermal efficiency engine of that super hybrid system, or its electrification configuration and second-generation Polestar battery, these are all things that Geely lacks in its foray into new energy vehicles.

Their research institute also lacks experience in in-depth reverse engineering of high-end new energy vehicles.

Li Shufu immediately took out his phone, "Yeah, I'll order one too, to show my support..."

-

Xu Yi continued, "Xingchen Auto has a unified price across its official website, stores, and APP nationwide. The pre-order channel will be officially opened to the public at 9:00 AM. You can place an order through any official channel with confidence. There is no need to worry about bargaining or price differences. The official treats every consumer equally."

After introducing this...

He then showed meticulous care and concern:
"If you don't know the official pre-order channels, I'll demonstrate them for you in a few minutes."

First, you can open the official website of Xingchen Auto. The homepage is the promotional page for Xingchen L7. Click on it, register your mobile phone number, and then you can make your selection on the configuration page. This time, we have opened up four paint colors and three wheel styles for you to choose from.

Secondly, we can also place an order through the app. First, go to the app store and find the Xingchen Auto app..."

There's a famous saying that goes something like that.

To make a product sell well, you have to treat all consumers like fools and remove all their barriers to buying.

While all car manufacturers assumed that consumers would find their own channels to buy vehicles, Xu Yi still adopted the "most primitive and simplest" approach.

Lei Jun sat down and opened his phone.

He had been browsing through Xingchen Automotive's official website and promotional pages since the very beginning.

While admiring the design of Xingchen Auto's official website and the 3D images of the vehicles, I couldn't find the reservation option for a while.

After all, he had no prior experience ordering cars online or buying cars online.

Not only him, but many consumers also lack experience in ordering cars online. Online channels have only been open for the past two years, and most people are more accustomed to ordering cars at 4S stores.

Under Xu Yi's thoughtful care, Lei Jun suddenly realized the truth.

"Oh! So this is where the official website booking process is..."

"wrong!"

"How come he knows this trick too?!"

……

(End of this chapter)